Belated update on the pre-9am 'Swim for Life' situatiom:
Following last week's meeting with Blair Cottam, I am pleased (& somewhat
surprised!) to report that we got a result! As from monday July 20th, over 60s
can swim free before 9am, mon-fri, at York Hall (& only York Hall). For now,
anyway. GLL will be 'monitoring' the situation. So don't all rush at once!
Gold star this time for GLL at least; thanks guys.
Dave


--- In Yorkhall@..., martin dowland <martindowland@...> wrote:
>
> many fair points there. Many of the 'rules' are determined by the Councils
themselves. I use the Islington pools, they are various in their quality and
Ironmonger has some of the rudest most arrogant and space-intolerant users of
all which is a shame because the pool is up to European standards. Similarly,
the Turkish baths is one of the very best i London and the Islington saunas some
of the best run. Aqua Terra do seem to understand what a sauna is, but I do not
know how much is determined by the Council.
> London Fields is fabulous, even though there are some awkward details in
changing rooms (useless doors on showers).
> You have to realise that, few people want to swim outside and that the
annoying feral types who go to pools have as much right to go there as you do.
The are a pain to manage, believe me!
>
> --- On Fri, 10/7/09, palmwino <palmwino@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: palmwino <palmwino@...>
> Subject: [Yorkhall] Re: "Swim for life" initiative
> To: Yorkhall@...
> Date: Friday, 10 July, 2009, 11:19 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In Yorkhall@yahoogroup s.co.uk, "John" <notdrowninginhackn ey@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Palmwino and Martin Dowland,
> >
> > I think you both make valid points. Local authorities (and their
contractors) are free to administer the scheme as they see fit. Some enlightened
boroughs such as - I believe - Islington (and their contractor, Aquaterra)
choose to allow people in to swim at what are termed "peak hours", including
before 9am but lane allocation is in force to avoid conflict.
> >
> > Less englightened boroughs, such as Tower Hamlets and Hackney (and their
somewhat inferior contractor GLL) place all manner of restrictions on swimmers
(you need a bloody PhD to understand their price schedules and timetables). No
wonder that lots of people I know from out of one of the other boroughs visit
Islington to swim .
> >
> > But, as Dave points out, those who are economically active tend to work 9-5
and can exercise only outside those hours. They have to pay more to use the
facilities and, when they get there, the facilities are far busier than during
the daytime (ie. off peak). So it seems fair and sensible to me that, if you can
benefit from the scheme, you should use it at the time it is most quiet (and for
local incentive schemes to reflect that).
> >
> > Of course, many of the most needy people - who would benefit most from free
swimming, such as physically disabled people, people with mental health issues,
chronically sick, socially isolated, etc - do not qualify and get left out in
the cold. Their free swimming schemes during off-peak hours have been withdrawn.
But the local authorities and Government is strangely quiet on this issue -
funny that, isn't it?
> >
> > As for London Fields Lido, it is absolutely beautiful, stunning and a pure
pleasure to swim in. But it breaks my heart to go at - say, 2.30 pm - and be one
of only five or six in the entire pool. Obviously it gets busy by 5pm and, in
the summer months, it is so chocka with screaming peeing kids you wouldn't want
to be in there if they paid you. But during the rest of the year? It is criminal
to let that pool sit empty and force locals to travel miles (even travel out of
the borough) to get an affordable swim.
> >
> > There, I've had my ha'pennies worth!
> >
> > J
> >
> >
> > --- In Yorkhall@yahoogroup s.co.uk, martin dowland <martindowland@ > wrote:
> > >
> > > fitness swims at these times are perfectly reasonable since they allow
people who want to do vigorous swimming on their way to work the chance to do
this with minimal hinderance, which is experienced at most other times. People
who are less likely to be in a rush go later, often at the same time as their
'club' sessions ( atype of membership for over 55's).
> > > Some people shout loudly that they want to have a swim, sauna or hatever
24/7, such that they would deprive others of a rare chance to get the facility.
Would you say the same if you found you couldn't behave hygienically and in a
relaxed manner if your men only session was invaded by women and vice versa?
> > > No, givernment money iis not being pocketed by the service provider. I
blame the Daily Telegraph for your apparent assumption!
> > >
> > > --- On Mon, 29/6/09, palmwino <palmwino@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > From: palmwino <palmwino@>
> > > Subject: [Yorkhall] "Swim for life" initiative
> > > To: Yorkhall@yahoogroup s.co.uk
> > > Date: Monday, 29 June, 2009, 3:26 PM
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Any over 60s out there a bit miffed that we can't get a swim "when we
would normally expect to get a swim" (Dept of Media, Culture & Sport website)
for free? In other words, why is the "Fitness Swim" session from 7am-9am not
designated as a 'public swimming' session, even though it is open to all members
of the public, albeit adults?
> > > All pools administered by GLL seem to be subject to this restriction,
including all pools within the 'Olympic Boroughs' (so much for 'Olympic
legacy'!) Those Hackney residents wondering why they can't get a free swim AT
ALL in the only Olympic-sized pool (London Fields Lido) might feel especially
miffed!
> > > Does anyone have the energy to contribute to a borough-wide, even
capital-wide campaign to call GLL to task, and institute this initiative in the
spirit in which it was conceived? (I mean, at least, would you sign a petition?)
> > > I fear once again the government pronises one thing, whilst the local
implementation of it is devised to maximise profits & minimise costs. Millions
have been allocated to this initiative, and hundreds of thousands have been
allocated to your local council. How much of this money is being pocketed by the
proxy administrators of these schemes?
> > > Dave Draper
> > >
> >
>
> Forgive me, I hadn't checked your replies until now, being under the
impression the users' group was in semi-permanent hibernation! It's good to know
this isn't so.
> Regional manager Blair Cottam has at least offered to meet me to discuss this
issue. Sadly an attempt yesterday to discover how much (or little) user support
there might be, by posting a petition on the changing room noticeboards (with
permission) has by today been replaced with a politely officious notice to send
feedback through official channels! Local permission has been over-ridden.
> A couple of points:
> 7am-9am is not 'officially' peak time at York Hall (unlike many other pools).
Neither is it usually oversubscribed at this time.
> Many of the swimmers affected by this are already coming before nine, so there
would be little increase in numbers. One I spoke to yesterday used to come at
twenty to, but now waits until nine. As he points out, ten minutes later the
schools are in, using half or two thirds of the pool for swimming lessons. Thus
the post-9am policy is actually encouraging more people to come when the
facilities are minimised!
> We'll see what transpires at my meeting next wednesday.
> Dave
>